Bryn couldn't wait to end her set for the night. Her voice was begining to get hoarse and she knew she was courting a cold. Not wanting to tax herself, she had kept the songs as quiet as possible and the men in the saloon had respected her decisions and seemed to truely enjoy the old songs she had dredged up.

Terrance had been giving her the evil eye and the boy, KC, was quietly in the corner, drinking whiskey and watching her only sporadically. He seemed drawn to watching Lily instead.

As Bryn finished her last one for the night, she was suprised at the loudness of the applause. She had brought out her fiddle and harp for the night and the rough-and-toumble cowboys had seemed to enjoy the change. Smiling, she made her way to the seven protectors table, unaware she was being watched like a hawk.

"That was truely lovely, my dear." Ezra grinned, he had been missing the quiet songs she sang with so much emotion. "Are you well? You looked flushed."

"It's nothin'." Bryn looked wanly at her old friend, not surprised one bit he could see she was becoming ill. "A bit of a cold on it's way."

"I got some tea that might help it stop before it starts." Nathan spoke up, looking at her with a concerned frown on his face.

Bryn blushed at the attention. "I'd truly thank ya for tha' , Nathan."

"Tell you what, ma'am." Buck got up and offered Bryn his chair. "Me and Nathan will go get the tea, you just sit and relax till we get back. Okay?"

Bryn suddenly felt very tired and gratefully accepted the chair with a smile of thanks. The two men moved off, followed by an unnoticed third figure. "Be so kind as to pour me a whiskey Mr. Tanner if you please."

"Whiskey, ma'am?" Vin smiled sharing a look with Ezra.

"Tea is all well an' good." Bryn faintly smiled back. "but whiskey is th' good old home cure for a cold. Or so me mother would say!"

Chris chuckled, thinking of the times when he had been ill as a boy and his mother had given him a little brandy or whisky for the chill.

After a few minutes, Lily came over and sat with them next to Chris and a lively discussion over liquor prices developed between those at the table. All except Bryn who just didn't have the energy. She looked around the smoky saloon. Shouldn't Mr. Wilmington and Mr. Jackson be back by now?

No one jumped more at the sound of a lone gunshot echoing through the streets.

The man looked upon the table where his Songbird sat. Why didn't she come around the room after she sang as normal? It was the highlight of the evening. HE would get to exchange a few words with his newfound love. When he noticed the tall gunslinger and the darkie get up and leave, he followed them. He hadn't liked the way the mustached man had taken his Songbird's arm in such a friendly manner the other day. She was to be his, and his alone! No one would touch her again!

He waited patiently for them to emerge from the darkie's rooms and took out his gun. Aiming carefully, he waited for the right moment. And then pulled the trigger.